The article considers the beliefs and practices of elementary-aged children who write for personal fulfillment. Mobilizing Lips-Wiersma's (Lips-Wiersma & Morris, 2011) notion of "meaningful work," I examine the ways in which these children experienced writing and sharing their work in a voluntary after school writing workshop and at…

Engaging children with science, sparking curiosity, encouraging questioning and hands-on exploration are among the top priorities for educators at Nicola Saporita-Clark's primary school in Lancashire, and something they have worked hard to engage the whole school community with over a number of years. They recognise that not all families have the…

This article illustrates several types of at-home science experiences that could be incorporated during grades K-2 to provide enriching science experiences that are motivating for students without requiring exhaustive work and preparation. These activities are designed to augment science interest and enthusiasm of students in the classroom and…

Families lay the foundation for their children's future educational success. Engaging families in mathematics education has positive benefits for their child's attitude, motivation to learn, and academic achievement. Fostering school-home partnerships are essential to ensure that mathematics learnt in the classroom have wider applicability to home…

Ethnic minority parents often appear to be less involved in school functions and activities than their culturally dominant counterparts. Their invisibility is usually assumed due to a lack of either interest or parental capacity to oversee their children's education. However, the simplistic equation between parental involvement in children's…

This paper shows how parents' perceptions of parent-teacher relationship practices differ between different types of schools with respect to children's special needs and the socio-economic status of these children. Using a questionnaire, we compare parents' views from two special education schools, two at-risk schools serving low SES-children, and…

In a 5-year longitudinal study of typical literacy development (Grades 1-5 or 3-7), relationships were examined between (a) parental responses to questionnaires about home literacy activities and ratings of children's self-regulation at home, both completed annually by the same parent, and (b) children's reading and writing achievement assessed…

This study examined parent-teacher interactions during a photo-sharing project at three early childhood centers that serve as clinical sites for early childhood preservice teachers. Families were provided with a digital camera for one week to document activities they used to support children's early learning and development. Families then…

A study to find out how teachers involve parents in learning programs is described. Teachers are advised to send letters to the parents of students they will be teaching the following year asking for support in overcoming summer learning loss. Specific activities teachers could suggest are offered. (MT)

To produce maximum learning achievement, parents and teachers can take five basic steps: (1) finding a simple approach to mastery learning; (2) improving learning conditions at the beginning of sequential courses; (3) improving the home study environment; (4) helping students develop "automatic" reading skills; and (5) stressing higher mental…

Postsecondary education must maximize the value of its resources and technology in an era of retrenchment, and future success in providing educational services will depend on cooperation among institutions and a networking of existing resources. (MSE)

Describes a Missouri-based program, Parents as Teachers (PAT), in which professionals work with parents to develop literacy activities in the home. Discusses a new adaptation of the original PAT program, its observed effects, and implications for schools. (MG)

Home-based programs provide opportunities at a level far beyond what a traditional public school program can offer. To stem enrollment losses to homeschooling, or simply to help families interested in home-based option, public schools are enrolling children and sending them home, where they follow the school's curriculum under their parents'…

Project Step-Up, a federally funded program which serves primary-level potentially gifted and talented children who are economically disadvantaged, bilingual, or have special needs, developed methods to involve parents in their child's educational growth and development. Methods include parent education seminars, home-based activities, and a…

Parents of mildly-disabled (learning-disabled, behaviorally-disordered, mild mentally retarded) six- to eight-year-olds (N=14) called a telephone service to hear weekly spelling lists, suggested techniques for helping children learn the words, and children's performance on weekly spelling tests. Results showed an increase in the average number of…